Gas generating compositions containing nitrotriazalone

Abstract

Automotive airbag gas generant formulation providing an alternative to commercially used formulations containing sodium azide. The composition contains from about 25% to about 75% by weight of 5-nitro-1,2,4-trizal-3-one (usually known as nitrotriazolone). The other principal ingredient of the composition is from about 25% to about 75% by weight of an anhydrous oxidizing salt having a cation selected from metals of Group I-A of the Periodic Table (except sodium), calcium, strontium, or barium, and an anion which is essentially free of carbon, hydrogen, or halogens. From about 0.1% to about 5% of a binder can be added, if necessary. An automotive airbag inflator containing the composition and a method for generating gas comprising the step of igniting the composition stated above are also disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A composition consisting essentially of from about 25% to about 75% by weight nitrotriazalone and from about 25% to about 75% by weight of an anhydrous oxidizing salt having a cation selected from metals of group I-A of the Periodic Table (except sodium), calcium, strontium, or barium, said salt having an anion which is essentially free of carbon, hydrogen, and halogens. 
     
     
       2. The composition of claim 1, consisting essentially of from about 35% to about 65% by weight of nitrotriazalone and from 65% to about 35% by weight of said anhydrous oxidizing salt. 
     
     
       3. The composition of claim 1, consisting essentially of from about 40% to about 60% by weight of nitrotriazalone and from about 60% to about 40% by weight of said anhydrous oxidizing salt. 
     
     
       4. The composition of claim 1, consisting essentially of about 60% by weight of nitrotriazalone and about 40% by weight of said anhydrous oxidizing salt. 
     
     
       5. The composition of claim 1, wherein said anion is selected from the group consisting of nitrate, nitrite and hexanitrocobaltate. 
     
     
       6. The composition of claim 1, wherein said anion is nitrate. 
     
     
       7. The composition of claim 1, wherein said anhydrous oxidizing salt is strontium nitrate. 
     
     
       8. The composition of claim 1, wherein said anhydrous oxidizing salt is potassium nitrate. 
     
     
       9. The composition of claim 1, further consisting essentially of from about 0.1% to about 5% of weight of a binder. 
     
     
       10. An automotive airbag inflator comprising: a metal housing having a gas outlet, a particulate gas generating composition according to claim 1 disposed within said housing, an igniter disposed within said housing adjacent to said composition and a gas filtering system disposed between said composition and said outlet. 
     
     
       11. A method for generating gas, comprising the step of igniting the composition of claim 1.